How can Christians show Christ’s love to sinners

[Mary Naeem]

How can Christians show Christ’s love to sinners without appearing to endorse sin

Showing Christ’s love to sinners without appearing to endorse sin is a delicate balance that requires wisdom, compassion, and a firm grounding in our faith. It is a challenge that calls us to embody the words of Saint Augustine: “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” This approach, when lived out authentically, can be a powerful witness to the transformative love of Christ.

We must remember that all of us are sinners in need of God’s grace. As Pope Francis beautifully reminds us, “The Church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners” (Hosie, 2015, pp. 1–2). This humble recognition allows us to approach others not from a position of moral superiority, but from a place of shared humanity and shared need for redemption.

To show Christ’s love without endorsing sin, we must cultivate genuine relationships based on respect and care for the whole person. This means seeing beyond someone’s sins or lifestyle choices to recognize their inherent dignity as a child of God. We can affirm their worth and value as individuals, even when we disagree with their actions or beliefs.

At the same time, we must be clear and consistent in our own beliefs and values. This doesn’t mean constantly preaching or condemning, but rather living our faith authentically and being ready to explain our convictions when asked. As Saint Peter advises, we should “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

In practical terms, this might mean maintaining friendships with those whose lifestyles we don’t agree with, while respectfully declining to participate in activities that compromise our values. It could involve offering support and care to someone struggling with addiction, while not enabling their harmful behaviors. Or it might mean loving and accepting a family member in a same-sex relationship, while not attending a ceremony that goes against our beliefs about marriage.

Jesus provides the perfect model for this approach. He dined with tax collectors and sinners, showing them love and acceptance, yet He never shied away from calling people to repentance and a new life. His interaction with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) beautifully illustrates this balance. He protected her from condemnation, showing her mercy, but also urged her to “go and sin no more.”

As Christians, we are called to be “salt and light” in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). This means engaging with the world around us, including those who don’t share our beliefs, while maintaining our distinct “flavor” and “brightness” as followers of Christ. We can invite people into our lives, homes, and communities, showing them the love and joy that comes from a life in Christ, without compromising our convictions.

Pope Francis encourages us in this direction: “The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity” (Hosie, 2015, pp. 1–2). By approaching others with this spirit of nearness and healing, we can show Christ’s love in a way that draws people towards God’s grace rather than pushing them away.